Deaf Child Crossing

Matlin, Marlee. Deaf Child Crossing. New York: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Divison, 2002.

This book is about two young girls who couldn’t be any more opposite. Cindy just moved into the neighborhood and becomes friends with Megan. When she moves in Megan introduces herself to Cindy and shortly after Cindy realizes that Megan is actually deaf. These two people are complete opposites in respect to personality, emotions, and characteristics. Despite their differences they cherish each other’s friendship and consider themselves best of friends. They go to camp and go through a hard time in their friendship when they seem to drift a part when there is another deaf girl paired to punk with them.

This book focuses on the struggle to maintain relationships with friends while growing up. In order to spicen things up throughout the book Marlee Matlin incorporates a deaf person into the equation. Deaf Child Crossing is written in a way that makes the reader feel that they are sitting right there in front of the scene witnessing what is exactly going on and being able sympathize with the characters. This book is easily relatable to younger readers who are figuring our friendships, themselves, and learning about ways of coping with being deaf.